Bright Sparx Campaign to tackle anti-social behaviour in run up to Bonfire Night

West Lancashire Community Safety Partnership is aiming to tackle anti-social behaviour in the run up to Mischief Night and Bonfire Night.

Through the annual Bright Sparx Campaign, the Partnership will aim to reduce anti-social behaviour, such as the misuse of fireworks, criminal damage and the number of anti-social fires started deliberately.

Heidi McDougall, Community Safety Partnership chairman, said: “Our comprehensive Bright Sparx action plan draws on experience of previous years to tackle potential problems and dangers around Mischief night and Bonfire Night to keep residents safe at this time of year.”

Councillor Kevin Wright, West Lancashire Borough Council portfolio holder for Community Safety, said: “The Community Safety Partnership provides excellent value for money as the Council and its partners work together to tackle anti-social behaviour at this potentially difficult time of year.”

In the run up to bonfire night neighbourhood policing teams will be conducting visible patrols and will deal robustly with incidents of anti-social behaviour.

West Lancashire Borough Council, police and fire service will undertake a number of other initiatives, including:

Visiting young people who have been involved in anti-social behaviour during previous Mischief Night and Bonfire Night periods

Taking fireworks from children who are under age

Removing bonfires from unauthorised sites

Promoting the exciting Go4it events at Skelmersdale Fire Station on Saturday 3 November and Sunday 4 November organised by Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and Lancashire County Council’s Children and Family Wellbeing Service

Joint visits to schools from Lancashire Fire and Rescue and the Police to warn children of the dangers of playing with fireworks and the consequences of Anti-Social Behaviour

Community Action and Engagement events in Tanhouse, Birch Green, Digmoor, Little Digmoor, Moorside, and Old Skelmersdale will aim to help reduce crime by removing rubbish and materials that could be used for criminal damage or starting fires. Advice will also be available on issues such as community safety and housing.

Fire service staff will be on hand to take referrals for home fire safety advice. Other organisations taking part include the Police, Trading Standards and the Community Payback Team.

On the day when Community Action and Engagement events take place in each area, skips will be available at the following locations from about 9.30am on different days for local people to get rid of rubbish. The skips will be taken away as soon as they are full:

Monday 22 October Tanhouse, Ennerdale, Community Centre Car Park

Tuesday 23 October Birch Green, Flordon, near Silver Birch pub

Wednesday 24 October Skelmersdale, near high street shops

Monday 29 October, Little Digmoor, Abbeywood, behind shop

Tuesday 30 October, Digmoor, Beechtrees, first left car park

Wednesday 31 October, Moorside, Cherrycroft, on the field

Lancashire Children and Family Wellbeing Service are also organising a Halloween Spooktacular Neighbourhood Community Day at Eavesdale Neighbourhood Centre between 1pm and 3pm on Friday 26 October. Based on the model from last year, this will be a fun event for all ages where families can come together, play and have fun but learn about staying safe over the Halloween and Bonfire period. This will incorporate an agency market place to support families who attend. Little Monsters Youth Group will also host a Halloween party between 6pm and 8pm on 31 October at the Eavesdale Neighbourhood Centre for children aged between 8 and 13.

West Lancashire Partnerships Inspector, Chief Inspector Ian Jones, said: “We are working closely with our partners and advising parents to keep their children at home to make sure they are safe and don’t get into trouble. If teenagers are going out they should attend properly organised and supervised events.”